WATCH |Drones clamp down on illegal crossings as Beitbridge stabilises after hectic weekend

By Thapelo Molefe

Operations at the Beitbridge Border Post showed signs of stabilising on Monday, following an intense weekend marked by high traveller volumes and a surge in attempted illegal crossings intercepted through drone surveillance.

Border Management Authority (BMA) Commissioner Dr Michael Masiapato said conditions on Monday were “much better” after officials worked through the night to clear long queues of buses and pedestrians that had built up on Sunday.

“We processed over 22,000 travellers and more than 100 buses yesterday. Overnight, we were able to clear the backlog, including pedestrian queues that had stretched as far as the bridge,” Masiapato said.

BMA officials remain on high alert, particularly along vulnerable bushy sections near the Limpopo River, where illegal crossings are common. 

Using drone technology, officials intercepted 97 undocumented foreign nationals attempting to enter South Africa illegally over the past 24 hours, with two suspected facilitators arrested and charged with